Using a Template for precise Die placement:
I am so excited to share this with you! I was making a card with one of my favorite colors, Concord Crush, when I realized I needed a reliable method for placement of my new Stampin’ Up Framelits Dies. I usually make a dozen cards at a time when I find a design I like (I send a LOT of cards), and needed to be able to ‘repeat’ the cuts.
I made a “template” to match my card front (5 ½” x 4 ¼”). The first time I drew a ‘grid’ on the template card stock, then realized I didn’t need to even do that. (Also don’t need to die cut the template itself). Line your die up on your template, cutting side up, where you want the card to be cut. Using a small piece of scotch tape, on the very edges, tape your die in place on the template. Match the corners and sides of your template, right sides together, to your card front. Make your sandwich using the cutting plates and run through your Big Shot as you always do. I punched out my dozen card bases in under 10 minutes. Perfectly placed every time!
This method works for making a “frame” too! Just line your second die up on the template, tape in place and it will repeat faithfully. I don’t like to waste my DSP so I cut it the width of the largest die. I line the edge of the paper up with the edge of the die, make my sandwich and run it through the Big Shot. After flexing my frame out of the template I set it and the label that was made at the same time aside. I line the edge of the die up with the new edge on the DSP, make my sandwich…..etc. I got 5 frames out of one 3” strip of DSP, with little waste.
I hope this idea is helpful for you. I am going to present it at my next workshop and am very excited to share it!
Your friend, Diane Welch aka quiltcat5
Date: Thursday, February 2, 2012 GMT Views: 683
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